Ronnie O’Sullivan opens up on snapped cue, ‘nightmare decision’ to withdraw from Masters - ‘I lost the plot’
Published 13/01/2025 at 20:32 GMT
Ronnie O’Sullivan has opened up on his decision to withdraw from the Masters, admitting he “exhausted” himself at the end of 2024 and start of 2025. The 49-year-old would have been going for a ninth Masters title but gave up his spot in the field after snapping his cue at the Championship League last week. Watch and stream the Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+.
‘Exhausted myself’ – O’Sullivan explains Masters withdrawal and snapped cue
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted it was a "nightmare decision" to pull out of the Masters, but it became clear he needed to skip the Triple Crown event after he snapped his cue while competing in the Championship League last week.
The Rocket was due to play John Higgins in the first round at Alexandra Palace but withdrew on "medical grounds" two days before the tournament kicked off, live on Eurosport and discovery+.
"Yeah, it was a nightmare decision to make," O’Sullivan told Eurosport. "You know, if you'd have asked me Sunday was I ready to play, I probably would have been OK to play, but it's such a massive tournament.
"I've obviously been on this three-week trip away playing and I just think I exhausted myself.
"[There was] a lot of pressure while I was away and I just think the build-up of all that kind of just got a bit too much really."
O’Sullivan has struggled for form this season and sits 18th on the one-year list. He was beaten by eventual finalist Barry Hawkins in the first round of the UK Championship before losing to Mark Allen in the semi-finals of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/01/13/4081977-82777193-2560-1440.jpg)
‘We can’t keep around forever’ – Williams admits days at top are numbered Class of ‘92
Video credit: TNT Sports
He was in action in Group Three of the Championship League in Leicester last week but cut a frustrated figure throughout.
He whacked his cue during a defeat to Robert Milkins and went a step further after losing four of five matches, eventually pulling out ahead of his final encounter against Ali Carter.
"I mean, I lost the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue, so that's unplayable," he added. "I knew that at that moment in time, the right decision was to not play. And it’s such a big tournament, I thought whoever was going to come in should have at least had a couple of days’ notice.
"It [the cue] was in the bin, one of them wheelie bins, and then my mate said, ‘look, you can't leave that there’, so he got it out and brought it with us.
"But I've got a couple of other cues that I’ve got to start practicing with, because obviously some tournaments coming up, so going to continue to play. So I need to get used to the cue now."
- Ding edges Williams in titanic battle of former champions to move into last eight
- Why Robertson remains at centre of one of snooker's greatest unsolved mysteries
O’Sullivan’s withdrawal opened up a spot for Neil Robertson, who pulled off a miraculous comeback to beat Higgins from 5-1 down to move into the quarter-finals.
The Masters pits the top 16 players in the world against each other, and eight-time champion O’Sullivan said he hopes to return and lift the trophy again.
"This is an unbelievable tournament," he said. "Top 16 best players in the world, amazing crowd.
"You know, I’ve won this tournament many times, [been in] like 14 finals. I'd love to come here and play again and hopefully be lucky enough to win the trophy again. That'd be great."
Watch and stream The Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement